1955 Karuta Set

    Description:  This is a karuta set and not a menko set, but I thought I'd include it on this site since it is from the era.  Karuta is a popular game in Japan and these cards are from an alphabet karuta set; hence the Japanese hiragana on the front of the cards.  I imagine the complete set has most of the popular Rikishi, but I have only seen these cards plus a Wakanohana card.  Cards came in a sheet and had to be cut out by children.  There would also have been a corresponding set of reader cards to match these picture karuta.

    Company: Unknown                                       Availability: Rare

    Card Size: 1.50" X 3.00"                                Card Material: Thin, paper stock

     # of Cards: 40+                                             Packaging: Sheet

   Key Cards:  Any Yokozuna

   Winner Stamp Description:  None

   Front Design:  The cards show the Rikishi on a blue background with their Shikona and a letter of the alphabet.

   Back Design:  Backs are blank.